The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1887-05-11
NO L,TE TENURE JUDGES.

NJ l4ffh EnNS NE |
"a decided and practical reform
in the administration Of Justice
would be secured in the election of
Judges for life or good behavior"
says the Newbcrry Observer. We
think differently. No state In the
union can boast of greater learning,
integrity, patriotism, and all those
high qualifications that II Judge
should possess, than has adorn-
cd the bench in this state. In the
mighty tides that ebb and flow, in
times of excitement and the great
est tumult no passion or prejudice
has ever placed the erminc in South
Carolina upon unworthy shoulders,
nor has it ever been taken from
one who wore it with honor. We
have had judges who reflected but
little credit on those who gave
them the Office, but happily they
couldn not be given the office Orlifc;
and, this jealousy with which the
office O Judgc in our state is guar
dcd, has caused them to step "down
and out"
1t is II sad commentary on the
integrity Of this age, to insinuatc
that Judges are dependant upon
the fnvOrs Of lawyers or any one
else. The surest way, to hold any
Office is to perform the duties of
the office fcarlcssly. No man has
ever been made II Judge who does
not know this, and it i; shown by
the frequent elections of Il lcgis-
laturc. But the Observer says fur
thcl, "Ifthe lawyers III the legis-
"lnture have power to defeat n re-
form of the criminal code as Sole
"itor Orr charges, then they have
"powcr enough to make candi-
"datc for reelection to the Judge
"ship feel his dependence on their
favors and good wishes"
We have great respect for Solic-
tor Orr, he is Il "worthy son ola
worthy sire" and has made Il faith
full and Jealous officer, but his let
ter from which this charge is taken.
like a great many newspapers let
tiers, is filed with bare charges. In
the first place Solicitor Orr does not
prove his charge; he does not show
how the mere handful Of lawyers
who arc sent to the Legislature can
he so powerful as to "defeat the re-
form of the criminal code"
But suppose Solicitor Orr and the
Observer are right, and that a can
didate for reelection to the judge
ship does feel his dependence upon
the favor and good wishes of law.
ycrs, how would clecting judges
for life remedy the evil" Would
not these lawyers WELD a. much
power in elect ng Il judge for life Il.
they would if his term was four o,
six years?
No, we want no lifctimcd Judges
We have II few now who have ont,
lived their efficiency as Judges. We
;believe in holding on to every Officer
SO long as he is the most acceptable
man, but we see no rcasO1 why ;
Judge should be placed beyond tn,
reach of the people. a Judge
should be fearless in the discharge
OF his duty; SO should the Cover
nor, why elect Il Judge for life
more than the Governor? Judges
are servant of the people and should
never be placed above their mas
tiers. Let them feel the pulse Of
the people rs it beats forjusticc; let
them be minded constantly that
they are not dictatsrs, but Judges
we hav3 too much bench-madC
law NOW and lifetime Judges will
increase it. When Judges are elec-
ted for life, they r arbitrary and
careless. We need hard working,
painstaking men who feel that
their own reputation rs we'll as the
rights OF iitigants arc involved in
their 1]cIiveranccs.
The Grand Jury Of Aiken county